DOVER — Matthew Tsopas, facing negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated charges after allegedly causing the head-on collision that killed a newlywed bride last month, failed to get bail for release in a Dover Superior Court hearing Tuesday.

Attorney Timothy Harrington who represents Tsopas, of Somersworth, asked the judge to change bail conditions from $75,000 cash to cash or surety. Harrington argued his client had no prior history of being a danger to the community. Harrington added Tsopas has strong ties in the area and has lived here nearly his whole life.

Tsopas' two brothers, mother and friends were seated in two rows in the courtroom.

Despite Harrington's efforts, the judge denied the request as New Hampshire Community Corrections recommended not releasing Tsopas. The judged added Community Corrections recommended Tsopas complete substance abuse counseling. The judge said he does not typically go against their recommendation.

Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi said Tsopas was a threat to the community and a “flight risk.”

Velardi said Tsopas had previous history of criminal mischief in 1995 and has shown he is unpredictable and destructive based on his actions of the night of the accident.

“This man scares me,” Velardi said. “There is nothing anyone can do in this courtroom to make him stop that again if he were released,” Velardi said.

Earlier this month, a Dover Circuit Court judge lowered Tsopas' bail from the original $250,000 cash to $75,000 cash, at a probable cause hearing in compliance with an earlier request made by Harrington.

At that probable cause hearing on Wednesday, July 31, Tom Velardi laid out the alleged details of what he said happened the night of the accident that killed the new bride, Leah Fonda Preiss, 30, of St. Paul, Minn., and injured her husband.

According to Velardi, Tsopas was “unruly” at a bar, where a witness saw him over-consuming alcohol and taking pills. Toxicology reports later found Tsopas had alcohol and several controlled drugs in his system.

According to a state police affidavit, Tsopas assaulted an employee and another individual at the Rollinsford American Legion at 319 Foundry St., and struck four cars in the parking lot with his Infiniti automobile as he was leaving.

Velardi said after Tsopas struck the vehicles he proceeded down Route 4 and attempted to pass another vehicle before the head-on crash that resulted in the death of Preiss.

Velardi said Tsopas then emerged from his vehicle and ran through the woods while removing articles of clothing. Velardi says a “good Samaritan” interceded and police were able to seize Tsopas after a struggle.

Velardi said Tsopas was then brought to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover for crash-related injuries, where he needed to be medically sedated and guarded by police.